1) Luke Joeckel, OL, Texas A&M
This long-armed three-year player should be a top talent in the NFL for quite some time. Joeckel reminds me of Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas.

2) Bjoern Werner, DL, Florida State
Werner, a German native, is a very, very good pass rusher. He's one of these guys who is highly motivated, someone who never takes a play off; in that way, he reminds me of Jared Allen. (And I'm not the only one.)

3) Chance Warmack, OL, Alabama
Warmack is very good and will be a factor in the NFL for many years; he should have a Larry Allen-type of career. However, as guards aren't usually drafted in the top 10, Warmack likely will be picked in the middle of the first round. He was an even better college player than the great Steve Hutchinson, who was picked 17th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 2001.

4) Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
More time will be spent on Smith than on any other player in the 2013 NFL Draft. When I watched him from the sideline during West Virginia's game against Texas, Smith was quick and on the money, though he did overthrow some long balls. If he enters the league with a Russell Wilson-type work ethic, Smith will be OK.

5) Star Lotulelei, DL, Utah
Lotulelei reminds me of Baltimore Ravens veteran Haloti Ngata, who also grew up in Salt Lake City. Lotulelei can collapse the pocket with quickness and power. He needs to dominate every play for four quarters.

6) Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
Moore can play with his hand on the ground in a 4-3 scheme or in space in a 3-4. Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson did a very good job against Moore in the Cotton Bowl.

7) Eric Fisher, OL, Central Michigan
The long-armed, quick-footed Fisher should play for quite some time in the NFL at a Pro Bowl-level. This youngster has the potential for lots of growth in the future.

Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
The big (6-feet-3/4, 200 pounds) corner might not have great speed, but he makes up for it with his physical play and ball skills. He likely learned some useful tricks of the trade from coach Nick Saban.

9) Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
The competitive Jones, who led college football with 14.5 sacks in 2012, never lets up; he plays like fellow Bulldog Justin Houston, who notched 10 sacks for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. Jones transferred from USC when he failed to get a clean bill of health following a neck injury.

10) Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
The speedy, quick and athletic Jordan -- a former tight end -- can rush or drop into coverage. He could add weight, however, and his health has been something of a question mark.

11) Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
Ansah, who came to BYU from Ghana as a track athlete, joined the football team in 2010 and became an outstanding starter. He had a poor week of practice ahead of the Senior Bowl, but he wound up being named the defensive player of the game. He should be a very good pass-rusher.

12) Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Floyd, a strong, three-year player with lots of upside, is a playmaker. He's a lot like Fletcher Cox, the 12th overall pick in 2012 who played well for the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie.

13) Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
An outstanding athlete for a defensive tackle, Richardson makes me think of a young Warren Sapp coming out of college. He has just one year of major football under his belt, and he needs to play harder on every down, but he has the ability to be good.

14) Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
The former high school quarterback shifted to tight end in junior college before moving to the offensive line in 2011. Johnson really stood out in the Cotton Bowl with the way he handled Texas A&M's Damontre Moore.

15) Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Mingo is a better athlete than he is a football player at this point, and he needs work when it comes to defending the run. He is, however, a very good pass rusher, and everyone is looking for very good pass rushers.

16) Keenan Allen, WR, Cal
Allen caught lots of passes at Cal even though he didn't have much of a quarterback throwing to him, and he's strong and quick for the position. A knee injury caused him to miss time in 2012; teams will need to check on his health.

17) Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
He's a size-speed player who catches well and spent some time at running back. Patterson, who spent two years in junior college before arriving at Tennessee, has just one season of experience playing major college football.

1 Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
I think he's every bit as good as Mark Barron, who was picked seventh overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 and went on to have a very good rookie year. The tough Vaccaro is athletic enough to cover the slot receiver; he never slows down.

19) Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
Ogletree, who started his career as a safety, runs well and has good instincts; he's a very good athlete who can play inside or outside. Players from Georgia tend to do well in the NFL. Teams will have to do more background work on Ogletree, however, given that he was recently charged with a DUI.

20) Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame
Te'o did all of the things that a linebacker is expected to do, up until his poor performance in the BCS Championship Game. He took on blockers, he blitzed, he played in space. He also collected seven interceptions and 113 tackles. The "girlfriend hoax" story, of course, seems to have overshadowed all of that.

21) Johnathan Hankins, DL, Ohio State
The powerful Hankins has size, ability and good range, though he also seemed to have fatigue issues at times. The three-year college player will get a lot better with age.

22) Jonathan Cooper, OL, North Carolina
Cooper is athletic, but the four-year starter needs to get stronger. He doesn't look as big as some NFL guards.

23) Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
Ertz, who has good hands, size and strength, has the potential to create matchup problems for NFL defenses. He is a better receiver than he is a blocker at this point.

24) D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
The long-armed Fluker has the power to dominate defenders. He projects as a right tackle only, as he lacks the feet for playing left tackle.

25) Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Eifert is very good at making contested catches -- he has more career receptions (134) than any other tight end in Notre Dame history -- and he blocks better than one might think.

I've always had respect for Gil Brandt, how could you not if you follow the draft to the extent I do and not respect your draft history. This list is pretty good, I do have to say a few of his recent years ranking lists I've had my questions and expected to question this more so.

Gil will tell you that he typically sees players more so in a range than a ranking specific # position...such as the 40-50 range, thinking I agree with entirely._________________

Not much difference between the 15th and 30th players. Not much between the 30th and 50th for that matter.

Interesting that E.J Manuel rated as high as he does._________________
"You build with draft choices. You find people with talents adaptable to your plans and then you teach them to do things the way we do them." - Chuck Noll

One thing about this draft. Yeah you can say there are no "elite" prospects but look at the 2004 NFL Draft, the most "elite" prospects in a draft I've ever seen. All were rated #1 on team's draft boards. Survey says...

You can clown on this draft but I would prefer to have TEN picks from 30-150 than trade up or stand pat at #17. This is the DEEPEST draft I have ever seen. If you know anything about the draft a lot of times, well most of the time, 2nd, 3rd rd guys turn out better than 1st rounders because they are hungry and have something to prove. This draft will be the epitome of that statement. We'll look at the wikipedia in future years and see the Pro Bowl players littered in that 2nd, 3rd round. We need to position ourselves to pick in those spots

Like Justin Hunter is the perfect example of this. He is better than any WR last year's class. He is the 4th-5th WR in this draft. Would I feel comfortable with him at #17, NO, but at 48, I'm like salivating at the mouth. He is closer to AJ Green than Limas Sweed.

One thing about this draft. Yeah you can say there are no "elite" prospects but look at the 2004 NFL Draft, the most "elite" prospects in a draft I've ever seen. All were rated #1 on team's draft boards. Survey says...

You can clown on this draft but I would prefer to have TEN picks from 30-150 than trade up or stand pat at #17. This is the DEEPEST draft I have ever seen. If you know anything about the draft a lot of times, well most of the time, 2nd, 3rd rd guys turn out better than 1st rounders because they are hungry and have something to prove. This draft will be the epitome of that statement. We'll look at the wikipedia in future years and see the Pro Bowl players littered in that 2nd, 3rd round. We need to position ourselves to pick in those spots

Like Justin Hunter is the perfect example of this. He is better than any WR last year's class. He is the 4th-5th WR in this draft. Would I feel comfortable with him at #17, NO, but at 48, I'm like salivating at the mouth. He is closer to AJ Green than Limas Sweed.

First off, the bolded is flat out wrong.

Secondly, Im sure the vast majority of people would prefer to have 10 picks between 30-150, than pick at 17 in ANY draft, so not sure why you are acting like people would reject that notion. Its simply to unrealistic to even consider.

Third, people act like trading down is simple as doing it. its not.

Fourth...while this is a deep draft. you are vastly overrating the likely success of 2nd and 3rd round picks. Might have several capable starters, but littered with pro bowler? Highly unlikely._________________Steelers Chise - Follow

Kellen Winslow Jr was not a bust. He has been a reiable receiver through his career, when healthy.

Roy Williams wasn't a complete bust. He was a good receiver, not great, for the lions. He as a bust for Dallas

a bust is measured on where they were picked. Sweed is considered a bust but if he were taken in the 4th round he would hardly be noticed. Expectations of being taken in the top 10 are almost beyond what the players can produce.

Rather than bust you could say they should not have been drafted so high. which always happens._________________
"You build with draft choices. You find people with talents adaptable to your plans and then you teach them to do things the way we do them." - Chuck Noll

One thing about this draft. Yeah you can say there are no "elite" prospects but look at the 2004 NFL Draft, the most "elite" prospects in a draft I've ever seen. All were rated #1 on team's draft boards. Survey says...

You can clown on this draft but I would prefer to have TEN picks from 30-150 than trade up or stand pat at #17. This is the DEEPEST draft I have ever seen. If you know anything about the draft a lot of times, well most of the time, 2nd, 3rd rd guys turn out better than 1st rounders because they are hungry and have something to prove. This draft will be the epitome of that statement. We'll look at the wikipedia in future years and see the Pro Bowl players littered in that 2nd, 3rd round. We need to position ourselves to pick in those spots

Like Justin Hunter is the perfect example of this. He is better than any WR last year's class. He is the 4th-5th WR in this draft. Would I feel comfortable with him at #17, NO, but at 48, I'm like salivating at the mouth. He is closer to AJ Green than Limas Sweed.

Yeah...that bolded part is kind of ironic.

Actually this whole post is chock full of all kinds of wrong._________________

"Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself."

One thing about this draft. Yeah you can say there are no "elite" prospects but look at the 2004 NFL Draft, the most "elite" prospects in a draft I've ever seen. All were rated #1 on team's draft boards. Survey says...

You can clown on this draft but I would prefer to have TEN picks from 30-150 than trade up or stand pat at #17. This is the DEEPEST draft I have ever seen. If you know anything about the draft a lot of times, well most of the time, 2nd, 3rd rd guys turn out better than 1st rounders because they are hungry and have something to prove. This draft will be the epitome of that statement. We'll look at the wikipedia in future years and see the Pro Bowl players littered in that 2nd, 3rd round. We need to position ourselves to pick in those spots

Like Justin Hunter is the perfect example of this. He is better than any WR last year's class. He is the 4th-5th WR in this draft. Would I feel comfortable with him at #17, NO, but at 48, I'm like salivating at the mouth. He is closer to AJ Green than Limas Sweed.

Yeah...that bolded part is kind of ironic.

Actually this whole post is chock full of all kinds of wrong.

I agree with the bolded for the most part. Some players eat too many big macs, because they are so hungry and as a result have poor-conditioning and fall in the draft because of it. So instead of being 1st rounders, they are 2nd-3rd rounders.

One thing about this draft. Yeah you can say there are no "elite" prospects but look at the 2004 NFL Draft, the most "elite" prospects in a draft I've ever seen. All were rated #1 on team's draft boards. Survey says...

You can clown on this draft but I would prefer to have TEN picks from 30-150 than trade up or stand pat at #17. This is the DEEPEST draft I have ever seen. If you know anything about the draft a lot of times, well most of the time, 2nd, 3rd rd guys turn out better than 1st rounders because they are hungry and have something to prove. This draft will be the epitome of that statement. We'll look at the wikipedia in future years and see the Pro Bowl players littered in that 2nd, 3rd round. We need to position ourselves to pick in those spots

Like Justin Hunter is the perfect example of this. He is better than any WR last year's class. He is the 4th-5th WR in this draft. Would I feel comfortable with him at #17, NO, but at 48, I'm like salivating at the mouth. He is closer to AJ Green than Limas Sweed.

Yeah...that bolded part is kind of ironic.

Actually this whole post is chock full of all kinds of wrong.

I agree with the bolded for the most part. Some players eat too many big macs, because they are so hungry and as a result have poor-conditioning and fall in the draft because of it. So instead of being 1st rounders, they are 2nd-3rd rounders.

For some. A lot of the players that fall into the 2nd and later rounds that turn out good generally happen because of film. it is part of what the Combine helps/hurts.

The NFL is just separating the cream from the milk. skim the best of the 5000+ odd college players ( who are eligible). It is like LSU vs Alabama every week with even bigger and better players.

It is hard to judge some players just from film because their level of competition is low. The best way to judge a college player is to watch how they do vs other players that will likely be drafted. You can watch hand placement and foot work and technique but that only goes so far. without film on a player against other players that will be drafted a GM/coach/scout must project. That is why we like comparisons. Hopkins is like Reggie Wayne. Ogletree is like Timmons or Weatherspoon or a combination that you will have to imagine.

Spread offenses in college give a lot of false positives for QB and WR. Epically for WR. Line up 5 WR and the QB finds the mismatch. Most college programs will not be as deep in Cb as they will in WR. You do not even have to run good routes to get open vs most of the CB.

Now we get to the Combine. To me it is a test that you know what they will ask. You know EXACTLY what you will be doing. You will [inappropriate/removed] in a cup. you will run and jump. Are you willing to bust your @$$ to prepare for this test that has little if nothing to do with your football skills? If so the move up. Otherwise you get Andre Smith and a host of others._________________
"You build with draft choices. You find people with talents adaptable to your plans and then you teach them to do things the way we do them." - Chuck Noll